India seeks adoption of international treaty on terror

Betwa Sharma

United Nations, Oct 9 (PTI) Concerned over the latest
attack on its embassy in Kabul, India has asked world leaders
to strengthen the legal framework in the fight against terror
by expeditiously concluding negotiations on an international
treaty proposed by it to tackle the menace.

"Our embassy in Kabul was again subjected to yet another
terrorist attack, which has resulted in injury of Indian
security personnel as well as death of large number of Afghan
civilians," India's envoy to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, told
a General Assembly committee.

"While it is important for the international community to
condemn terrorism and these attacks in an unequivocal manner,
it is also critical that we strengthen the legal framework in
the fight against terrorism," he said.

The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the bombing,
saying that the Indian embassy "was the main target".

The top Indian diplomat stressed that in view of the
growing threat of terror attacks, it was time to wrap up the
draft for the 'Comprehensive Convention on International
Terrorism (CCIT)' since the document submitted by India had
been under negotiations for years.

"Countless innocent lives have been lost to heinous
terrorist attacks. It is imperative that our resolve against
perpetrators of such attacks now be manifested in a strong and
resolute manner," Puri told the committee that handles a range
of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues
affecting people all over the world. (More) PTI